Voluntary National Reviews Reports: What do they (not) reveal?

Voluntary national reviews (VNRs) are an important innovation as a United Nations process for follow up to the adoption of development agendas. This is the third annual review by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) that provides a systematic content analysis of the VNRs presented to the HLPF. It includes a broader analysis than in the previous years, including a stock taking of lessons learned in the CDP analyses as well as related studies and makes recommendations for strengthening the VNR process. The paper also analyses the VNRs presented in 2019 with regard to how countries addressed the key principle of leaving no one behind and partnerships as well as the sustainable development goals (SDGs) on gender equality (SDG 5) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). Moreover, in the context of the current COVID19 pandemic, the paper analyses how these VNRs address health emergencies. The paper confirms that the VNRs contain many interesting examples of national implementation approaches, but also highlights the CDP's concern with weak attention to addressing inequalities and the commitment to leave no one behind. The report also draws attention to the need for strengthening the substantive analysis in the VNRs to facilitate the exchange of experience, and to enhance civil society involvement in the process to contribute to national democratic accountability for advancing sustainable development.